New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-07
q Glimpse of the Gar.

A few nights ago. says a ST. Peters
burg correspondent Of the New York
/ Sun, attended the illuminations at
PeterhoH in honor OF the czaIina's3
birthday. The cars palace is on q
peninsula, and the grounds and build
. ings occupy almost q mile square
the most superb structures. fountains,
i and miles Of the finest parking and
drives in the world. Scores OF build
ings and fountains, hundreds oftrees
| and sreat crowns, crosses, and figures,
besides miles OF high walls, were cover
ed with colored lamps. There were
, millions OF lights and it required q
regiment Of soldiers and hundreds Of
civilians weeks to put them in place.
All was paid for from the public treas
ury, or rather the car s treasury re-
pleted by the people. 8s.
At a time in the evening when the
| fountains and lights glistened most,
the bands played loudest, and the py-
rotechnics and cannon from the men
of-war in the gulf glared aud roared
/ best, the royal family gave the as
! sembled multitude a rare treat, it
showed itself. Seldom it is that people
/ in Russia see their emperor, their
czar, because he suspects them OF de-
/ signs.
| Twas making my way between two
Of the great blazing walls of colored
i lights, through one of the drives, when
! a detachment of Cossacks came dash.
ing along, slashing their sabres and
| driving the people out OF the way. In
| their wake came soldiers on foot and
great detachments OF men in citizens
clothing. The latter stationed them
selves in front Of the lines of the mass
es. A Gin of voices-lusty cheering is
heard in the distance. Itcomes near
/ er, then nearer. More Cossact {, more
/ soldiers, more men in citizens cloth
/ ing, and farther back we are GRO wded.
forced in our front, and many linger
in the driveway. Finally the caravan
comes in view. More Cossacks, sol
diers, citizens. Eight white horses,
each one on the lett bearing a
liveryman, are next seen;
then the royal equipase, an
immense gold-mounted chariot. The
czar, q great burly fellow with full
beard, crown, and uniform, is on the
lett seat in front. The brother, the
crown prince, the czarina, and grand
dukes, &C., make up the load. On
every haud OF the carriage, four deep,
are Cossacks, while the driveway in
front and rear is blocked with sol
| diery, making a perfect shield against
violent attack.
The citizens who were so very
plentiful ard officious were the most
experienced detectives and body
guards in the empire. There were thou
sands of them. 1t would have been
impossible for one to raise his or her
hand against the czar Or any member
Of his family. 1t is the boast OF the
Russian authorities that their detec-
tives have eyes in every portion of
their heads and bodies. The whole
service of protecting the crown and
members of the family, and suppress
!. ing all thoughts of dissatisfaction
with the present form Of government
is in full charge of Gresser, chief OF the
secret service. The authority of this
officer is appalling. He can order in
to exile or the execution yard any
one suspected Of unlawful or disre-
spectful acts or Intentions. He at
tends the theaters. and may be said
to run all places OF amusement. If he
is displeased with anything he sup
presses it, and there is no redress.